CBD around the world: Is CBD legal in Canada?
As the new wellness trend, CBD is growing it is interesting to see how the world evolves around it. Even though we have heard many times that CBD is a natural compound extracted from cannabis plants and it does not have the same psychoactive properties like THC, some countries still approach them more carefully than others. For example, Canada has an interesting view on the topic, so let's see what that is.
So Canada… although it is physically large, the population is only 33 million. That is about 4 million less than California, but that doesn’t mean they would have lower demand for CBD products.:) But the law gets a little tricky here and you might feel like the more you try to learn about Canada’s 2018 Cannabis Act, the less you seem to understand. Worry none, we are here to clear everything up.
Is CBD legal in Canada?
So the short answer to the question “Is CBD legal in Canada?” is yes and no. However Canada legalized recreational cannabis, they strictly regulate and monitor who buys what, and who sells what. When the Government introduced Bill C-45 (Canada’s Cannabis Act) the goal was keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth and keeping profits out of the hands of criminals and organized crime.
What does this mean?
The confusion can come from the fact that separate laws apply to sellers and buyers. So while you can buy CBD products (over the age of 18-19, depending on the province or territory) for recreational and medical use, you can only do that as long as you purchase from a licensed producer.
Can you grow Cannabis in Canada?
You can even grow and use a limited quantity of cannabis under the same terms, meaning it is coming from retailers authorized by the provinces and territories. You can also consume cannabis in locations authorized by local jurisdictions, possess up to 30 grams of dried, legal cannabis, or equivalent in non-dried form in public, share up to 30 grams of dried, legal cannabis with other adults.
What about CBD?
The CBD oil that you purchase from a convenience store, health food stores, and other unregulated outlets are illegal and not controlled by the government. Therefore, the quality and potency of those products can be questionable. The regulations are much more strict if you are on the other side.
You can’t produce, sell, and distribute CBD without government authorization. Each step of production requires a different license, for example, growers can’t extract CBD under the same permit. Producers and retailers have to have many permissions to ensure their product meets stringent quality standards, and it is safe for the public.
Final thoughts
The conclusion is that while Canada laws seem strict and confusing, they allow CBD in certain ways. Is it easier to have CBD in other countries? Yes, for sure, but it is certainly not awful or impossible in Canada either.
